Rooted

"Uncle Yu, I-I didn't mean it that way."

After coming to his senses, Tiezhu stammered, glancing around guiltily.

His aptitude was average. At thirty-three, he had reached Fetal Movement Minor Accomplishment, but that was the norm for ordinary people.

Even with opportunities and good fortune right before them, not just anyone could seize them. There were still plenty of ordinary people who struggled even to enter the Fetal Movement realm.

Take Yu Dashan, for instance. At twenty-two, he had reached Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment and undergone Blood Change once. Even in the settlement, he was among the best.

That was exactly why Old Man Yu still held a glimmer of hope for him.

"All right. We're all family here. I know you didn't mean any harm, but you need to keep a tight rein on that tongue of yours from now on. Think about your family before you speak."

Old Man Yu said earnestly.

"Uncle Yu, I'll remember. Are you the only one in your family staying behind this time, or...?"

Tiezhu nodded vigorously.

"I'm the only one staying. The three brothers are going into the Blessed Land."

Old Man Yu said.

"Uncle Yu, how about our two families join forces? At least we'd have each other to rely on."

Tiezhu said.

He knew that Old Man Yu had reached Fetal Movement Major Accomplishment. Though he looked old and frail, Tiezhu was no match for him once he actually started fighting.

"What's your family's situation? Are you staying behind by yourself?"

Old Man Yu didn't take him up on the offer, but asked instead.

At his words, Tiezhu's face fell. "My family can only scrape together enough Spirit Stones for my wife and the two children this time. My mother and I will stay behind.

"If I'd known the Blessed Land quota would go up in price, I should've forged more iron goods before. It's all my fault."

By the end, his face was full of regret, and his eyes had grown damp.

Besides farming, he was a skilled blacksmith. He often forged iron tools at home in the evenings and sold them. Otherwise, they probably wouldn't even have been able to scrape together enough for three spots.

His father had died young, leaving only his elderly mother at home.

If he could, he would have sent his mother into the Blessed Land, but he simply had no choice.

The two children were still young and needed someone to care for them. When they discussed it earlier, his mother had been the first to say she would stay home. If he refused, she'd kill herself by smashing her head against something.

His wife had also told him to take the children into the Blessed Land.

That way, if anything happened to her, he would still be there to raise the children.

After all, he was the family's pillar. He could forge iron and work the fields.

But Tiezhu was a grown man. How could he abandon his mother and wife, leaving two women behind to await death?

In the end, he'd stood firm: his wife would take the children into the Blessed Land, while he and his mother stayed behind.

He knew full well that his mother couldn't survive this Black Annihilation Wind Disaster. He only wanted to do his last bit as a dutiful son.

"All right. None of us expected the Blessed Land quota to go up in price, so you can't be blamed for it. While there's still time, carry more stones to build up the wall, then dig the cellar deeper.

"I won't join up with you. The more people there are, the easier it'll be for those bugs to sense us. When that happens, none of us will get away.

"As for everything else, we can talk it over properly later."

Old Man Yu patted Tiezhu on the shoulder.

If he hadn't discovered the Rare Species in his home, then out of sympathy and a sense of mutual aid, he might have considered joining forces with Tiezhu.

But this concerned the future of the Yu Family and the lives of everyone in his household. He couldn't afford to let his heart soften even a little.

"Mm, I understand. I've forged two spears at home. I'll bring one over later for you to keep for self-defense."

Tiezhu was a little disappointed, but didn't say anything more.

After all, what the other man said made sense.

"Sounds good. I won't stand on ceremony, then."

Old Man Yu accepted.

After Tiezhu left with a load of stones on his back, the three members of the Yu Family also started picking out suitable stones and loading them into their baskets.

Yu Dashan kept his head down, putting all his strength into wrestling with the stones.

Yu Ershan breathed a little heavily, but he seemed somewhat relieved.

Old Man Yu, meanwhile, was consumed with figuring out how to make the wall higher and sturdier, so it could protect the Rare Species.

Load after load of stones was carried back home and piled up outside the wall.

The waist-high wall had originally been little more than a token effort. No one had expected it to provide any real protection. Besides, keeping it low meant they could see the Spirit Field from the courtyard.

But now, everything was different.

At noon, a man who looked a little younger than Old Man Yu came to visit. Yu Dashan addressed him as Uncle Zhao.

"My family can scrape together three more Spirit Stones. How many are you still short?"

He didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"We're still far short. If you've got Spirit Stones burning a hole in your pocket, feel free to give me some more."

Old Man Yu said with a grin.

"How can you still joke at a time like this?"

Zhao Kun said, panting.

"So you do know this isn't the time for jokes?

"If you scrape together those Spirit Stones and give them to me, how will your family get by next year?

"And Jiadong is almost ready for Blood Change, isn't he? If you buy him a Blood Replenishing Pill, you'll save him at least a year."

Old Man Yu said seriously.

"My family's affairs are none of your concern. Here are three Spirit Stones."

Zhao Kun pulled out three Spirit Stones, tossed them down, then turned and left.

Old Man Yu didn't chase after him. He only stared blankly at the three Spirit Stones on the ground.

"Dad, Uncle Zhao was just trying to help. With these three Spirit Stones, we're only two short."

Yu Dashan stepped forward and said.

Ten mu of Spirit Fields could be exchanged for fifty Spirit Stones after deducting the rent. Add the five Spirit Stones the family had saved and these three, and they only needed two more.

As for what they would eat next year, or how they would afford medicine for his second brother, he didn't consider those the most urgent concerns.

The most important thing right now was to gather enough Spirit Stones to enter the Blessed Land.

Only the living had the right to talk about next year.

"Enough. Later, take those three Spirit Stones back to Uncle Zhao. His family isn't well-off either. And it's no small thing that he's kept us in mind all these years.

"Besides, even if our family had enough Spirit Stones right now, I still wouldn't go."

Old Man Yu crouched down, picked up the three Spirit Stones, wiped them on his clothes, then placed them in Yu Dashan's hands.

"Dad!"

Yu Dashan shouted.

"That's how it is. If you still consider me your father, then listen to me. You'll understand someday."

Old Man Yu shook his head. He still didn't explain, but turned and walked away.

The Elm Tree in the corner swayed in the breeze. Yu An quietly watched everything unfold, gaining a deeper understanding of Old Man Yu's character.

Over the next few days, Yu An devoted himself to cultivation while observing the Yu Family.

He understood Old Man Yu's worry and his desperate need to raise the wall. With the Netherworld Crisis weighing on him as well, Yu An chose to send his roots deeper into the earth instead of growing more branches and leaves.

So even though he could clearly feel himself growing stronger over these past few days, his vitality surging ever higher, his choice meant that he showed little outward change. During the day, he even deliberately restrained the vitality in his branches and leaves, trying not to look too lively.

Only late at night, when all was still, did he cultivate with all his might.

There was just one thing that made him uncomfortable: at night, a voyeur often appeared nearby, watching him with a pair of eyes that gleamed with a thief's greed.